Adm. Eugene Fluckey has passed away.

Fluckey family | 6/29/07 | glm

[glm]

For those familiar with Adm. Fluckey's life, he passed away last night. Adm. Fluckey was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and 4 Navy Crosses during WWII. He also wrote about his experiences in a book entitled "Thunder Below".

I wish his family well.

[Gay State Conservative]

The Greatest Generation...

[Tribune7]

Bump for a hero.

[albie]

“Flags of our Fathers” salute. (This book btw, sums up the courage of our fathers and the hell they went thru in regards to Iwo Jima and other battles, very well)

[JarhedAirmanPatriot]

God Bless. He and His Family.

Support our troops

[Doohickey]

And or those who aren’t:

Gene Fluckey won the Congressional Medal of Honor on BARB’s 11th war patrol. He was a member of Loughlin’s Loopers, a wolfpack. Together, Commander Elliot Loughlin in QUEENFISH (SS-393), Commander Ty Shephard in PICUDA (SS-382), and Gene Fluckey in BARB harassed a large convoy off the China coast in January 1945, firing more than 30 torpedoes in a series of attacks. The pack was finally credited with sinking four ships and damaging two. QUEENFISH and PICUDA departed the area for lack of torpedoes but Fluckey, frustrated in his search for additional targets, decided that an aggressive pursuit close to the coast was required. He was rewarded when he detected many ships in Namkwan Harbor. He penetrated on the surface in water less than 36 feet, firing eight of his last 12 torpedoes, sinking one ship. He escaped unscathed and after missing a freighter with his last four torpedoes returned to Pearl Harbor to a royal welcome. He made one more patrol in BARB (SS-220), ingeniously sinking ships and craft with deck-launched rockets, and sending a raiding party ashore which blew up a train with large loss of life. He retired in 1972 and was awarded two Legions of merit for post-war service.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

And to think that our country was nearly given away after the Greatest Generation gave their lives to save it.

[T.Smith]

That was a ballsy move, but, what about his crew? Did they get the MoH also? How often does one get a MoH for putting an entire boat crew in jeopardy?

[glm]

Thanks for the info. I met Adm. Fluckey will researching information about his mother. She taught my great-aunt how to paint china. She was well known in Washington DC. She was in a car accident after visiting with Eugene at the Naval Academy and died shortly thereafter. He was a wonderful man. You knew he was a great person just by watching him interact with everyhone. I shall always remember him kindly.

[cake_crumb]

God rest his souls and lend strength to his family. My grandmother just passed away, and her husband will not outlive her by much, Hubby's uncle, a former Army Ranger, is failing fast...

So many of the Greatest Generation are leaving us now, during this "unpopular war" when America needs their memories and wisdom the most. It's heartbreaking.

[PurpleMan]

He was the most highly decorated living American warrior.

[glm]

His crew loved him and nicknamed him Lucky Fluckey. I guess they also did not mind blowing up a train for him. A submarine that blew up a train! Yes, during a war your job is to take down the enemy. Winners take chances (albeit calculated ones)and play to win and losers play not to lose. If given the chance to damage the enemy I guess you would choose to say there is no chance before even trying. Oh well, I guess that is the difference between that generation and this one.

[ArrogantBustard]

Eternal Rest grant unton him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

"Thunder Below" was a wonderful book; real page-turner.

[Doohickey]

The MoH is an individual honor, not a "me too" one. I'm sure the crew of Barb received awards for their actions.

The CO of a warship is held accontable for the actions of his crew. While normally we hear about that concept in a negative context, it does follow that he is also accountable for heroic actions.

[ishabibble]

>>So many of the Greatest Generation are leaving us now, during this “unpopular war” when America needs their memories and wisdom the most. It’s heartbreaking.<<

I must respectfully disagree. Admiral Fluckey has passed on, but what he gave to his country is alive today in the streets of Bagdhad, the plains in Afghanistan, on the ships in the Persian Gulf. That is our WWII veteran’s legacy.

Another Iwo Jima Marine passed away yesterday. He was one of the original flag raisers. His legacy is that I emailed a news article and obit to my son, USMC, that someone was kind enough to post on this site. We cannot forget these brave men now, and we must honour their lives and memories by following their fine example.

[ArrogantBustard]

Members of the submarine's demolition squad pose with her battle flag at the conclusion of her 12th war patrol. Taken at Pearl Harbor, August 1945. During the night of 22-23 July 1945 these men went ashore at Karafuto, Japan, and planted an explosive charge that subsequently wrecked a train. They are (from left to right): Chief Gunners Mate Paul G. Saunders, USN; Electricians Mate 3rd Class Billy R. Hatfield, USNR; Signalman 2nd Class Francis N. Sevei, USNR; Ships Cook 1st Class Lawrence W. Newland, USN; Torpedomans Mate 3rd Class Edward W. Klingesmith, USNR; Motor Machinists Mate 2nd Class James E. Richard, USN; Motor Machinists Mate 1st Class John Markuson, USN; and Lieutenant William M. Walker, USNR. This raid is represented by the train symbol in the middle bottom of the battle flag.

[Non-Sequitur]

Gee he must have been pushing 100. I had a friend in the Navy, a bubblehead, who named his twin sons Eugene and Bennett after Admiral Fluckey.

[ArrogantBustard]

IIRC, the entire crew was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for the Namkwan Harbor raid.

[silverleaf]

Rear Admiral Eugene Bennett Fluckey is a former United States Navy submarine commander who received the Medal of Honor during World War II. As commanding officer of the submarine "Barb," shown in picture at top.

[ken5050]

Wonderful post. Many thanks...If I can slightly digress from the topic at hand...it’s time to remember one of the truly great American commanders of WW II, whose genius as a leader of men and ships was matched only by his desire to avoid the spotlight and any publicity...Admiral Charlie Lockwood, ComSubPac in WW II...and IMHO, the man who may well be more responsible for the defeat of the Japanese than any of the more well known commanders of that war theater...